TransLink Annual report 2009-10

[ozbob]

TransLink Annual report 2009-10 is now available

--> http://www.translink.com.au/reports.php

[ozbob]

Interesting read.  Still don't agree with the reported statistics for bus performance.  99.99% of services delivered?  That is only one service in a 10000 is a no show ?????  That simply is not the passengers experience, far from it, and doesn't reflect the constant bus disruption due to the basket case which are the roads in SEQ.  Also the ontime performance, despite the the wide definition of on time is again not the users experience.  How are these measures actually determined?

Unless there are some major rail frequency improvements I have little doubt the present regime is doomed to oblivion.  The only indication for any improvement is CAB-IPS.

We are seeing serious neglect of the Sunshine Coast line commuters, despite the considerable growth and transport pressures, and the obscene inaction to address the timetable properly following completion of the Caboolture - Beerburrum duplication is a scandal.  The failure to continue with duplication to Landsborough needs to be addressed ASAP.

The train frequency in SEQ is the worlds worst for any comparable system, fact.  It is the main cause, IMHO, for the failure to properly drive relative increases in public transport mode share since the first integrated regional transport plan in 1997.  The fact that the rail timetable is largely unchanged since 1997 is something that escapes many.

[#Metro]

Interesting read.  Still don't agree with the reported statistics for bus performance.  99.99% of services delivered?  That is only one service in a 10000 is a no show ??  That simply is not the passengers experience, far from it, and doesn't reflect the constant bus disruption due to the basket case which are the roads in SEQ.  Also the ontime performance, despite the the wide definition of on time is again not the users experience.  How are these measures actually determined?

Is rail and bus patronage measured the same way? Train on time reliability is done in peak hour IIRC.
Is this the same for buses, or are the off peak, weekend and night time services being mixed into that to dampen down the proportion? Remember, not everyone has the luxury of waking up and deciding to go to work in the off peak hours.

We are seeing serious neglect of the Sunshine Coast line commuters, despite the considerable growth and transport pressures, and the obscene inaction to address the timetable properly following completion of the Caboolture - Beerburrum duplication is a scandal.  The failure to continue with duplication to Landsborough needs to be addressed ASAP.

The train frequency in SEQ is the worlds worst for any comparable system, fact.  It is the main cause, IMHO, for the failure to properly drive relative increases in public transport mode share since the first integrated regional transport plan in 1997.  The fact that the rail timetable is largely unchanged since 1997 is something that escapes many.

Agree. The Sunshine Coast in terms of land use and growth is almost like a mirror image of the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast is a little more down the track, but IMHO there is no reason why 'Gold Coast service levels' can't be put on the Sunshine Coast. IMHO the CAMCOs corridor would also be better going all the way up to Noosa.

I wonder if Colinw could have a look through the timetable and see when the last service improvement was? That are the chances the services have not improved since the 1980s?

[#Metro]

I also meant to add, what about bus overcrowding during peak hour in Brisbane?

[ozbob]

Yes, the bus figures make one want to query the whole report.

Anyway, thinking about the Sunshine Coast line.  Add a three car shuttle service between Nambour and Gympie North.  This would be a start. Takes a little over an hour from Gympie North to Nambour.  Add in the inevitable delays to train passes etc. a three hour cycle - Gympie North - Nambour - Gympie North.  Say the shuttle leaves at times to facilitate connections with the thru services ex Nambour during the day.  Say 9.15am out of Gympie North, 1pm out of Gympie North, and around 5pm out of Gympie North.  Keep in place the other existing services.  Could be made to work. These times would also connect broadly with terminating Nambour services ex Brisbane. 

This would then give some purpose to the temporary platform extensions.  Folks could actually use them to catch semi-regular trains!  

[haakon]

Does anyone have any more information on the Corporate Go Cards mentioned in the report?

[Stillwater]

As annual reports from government entities go, this is a good one.  It must be good to meet accountability and transparency objectives within government for reporting to 'shareholders'  (that's us!).  However, one of the dangers in setting targets is that you must meet them! 

Sometimes, the determination to meet targets causes agencies to go after the low-hanging fruit.  Recently we had the case of the Health Department meeting government targets to reduce surgery waiting lists by processing lots of people with relatively minor ailments simply to get the numbers down.  Thus the government was able to claim that waiting lists had been reduced, but people with more complex and potentially life threatening health complications were left unattended. 

The same temptation exists in a transport agency with targets to meet -- put more buses on existing routes with a relatively good frequency and don't increase bus-rail services where it is harder to train people to use public transport, but where this is desirable.  The answer is to have a split target where the agency is required to build patronage overall, but then break that down so a proportion of the overall increase has to be achiebed in low patronage sectors.  Transferring that back to the health analogy, yes you will get round to solving the ingrown toenail problems, but life your game when it comes to heart-lung transplants.

[ozbob]

I was briefed on the possibility of  'Corporate Go Cards' last November by a Senior Minister.  As far as I am aware these cards (like most things with the go card system) are still being developed.  I have been informed that it is still something that will come along, together with 15 minute off peak frequency I suppose ...

[somebody]

the obscene inaction to address the timetable properly following completion of the Caboolture - Beerburrum duplication is a scandal.  

It is the defining moment of Translink's existence!